noun
Muennink's spiny rat; Okinawa spinous country-rat
A rare rodent species endemic to Okinawa Island. Scientific name: Tokudaia muenninki.
オキナワトゲネズミは沖縄本島北部だけに生息する固有種だ。
The Okinawa spiny rat is an endemic species found only in the northern part of Okinawa Island.
オキナワトゲネズミの保護活動が進められている。
Conservation efforts for the Okinawa spiny rat are underway.
The name is a compound of 沖縄 (Okinawa) + 棘 (toge, 'thorn/spine') + 鼠 (nezumi, 'rat/mouse'), describing a spiny rat native to Okinawa. The exact derivation is straightforward; the katakana form is the conventional biological name.